The Talleys Strikes Back

AFFCO chief executive, Hamish Simson, has informed the media that AFFCO has laid a complaint with the Serious Fraud Office to investigate the financial accounts of the meat workers’ union. According to Simpson, there are “irregularities” in the Union’s financial accounts.

Simspson claims that,

“It appears from the union’s published financial statements that only a fraction of its total income has been declared. Affco union members paid $5.95 a week each to the union, which totalled more than $500,000 a year.Affco workers represent less than 10 per cent of the 23,000 members the union says it has and yet it only declares revenue of just over $700,000 per annum.More and more of our staff are starting to question where their money has gone. With the union now asking the public for donations, every workers’ dollar must be accounted for. ” – Source

It is noteworthy that the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants has already investigated a similar complaint and found no evidence of wrong-doing.

When interviewed on Radio NZ’s Checkpoint, Hamish Simpson appeared less than forthcoming on several important matters. He could not even state how many “AFFCO union members” had “started to question where their money has gone“.

“It hasn’t taken into account that the Meat Workers’ Union’s made up of four independent branches that collect the union fees off the members.They run autonomous accounts and have them audited and pay a capitation to the national office. All the complaint is about is the national office accounts.”

AFFCO are playing silly buggers. Dave Eastlake is right; this is a publity stunt.

But more than that, this is a carefully orchestrated attempt to wreck the reputations of meatworkers and their Union in the publics’ mind. It is a similar ploy to the so-called “Fact Sheet” that Ports of Auckland Ltd published which alleged that port workers were “remunerated” $91,000 p.a.

It is noteworthy that in his media statement, Simpson referred to “the union now asking the public for donations“.

And that, I submit, is what this is all about; a battle for the hearts and minds of the public of New Zealand. It is a battle that POAL lost soon after the 5,000 strong street march on 10 March, and when the Employment Authority came down hard against the Port management and Board.

POAL have lost the struggle for public support.

POAL have all but lost the battle with the Courts.

Talleys AFFCO are witnessing a similar campaign to build public support for locked-out meatworkers, in the media, on Blogs, and in the community. Perhaps they understand that locking out workers, who were supporting families, is not a particularly good look. In fact, this blogger goes as far as to suggest that Talley’s management have stuffed up Big Time, and are only now beginning to comprehend their precarious position.

The fact that a public boycott of Talley’s products can actually damage their brand name and impact on their profitability is only now beginning to dawn on them?

With this blog, and others, and social media supporting a boycott – Talleys AFFCO is in trouble.

If you’re reading this and are pissed of at Talleys AFFCO’s dirty tricks campaign, you can make a quick $5 donation by calling: 0900 562 5688 . It’s a nice, easy way to vent your anger and support the locked out workers at the same time.

‘Karma’s a bitch‘ as they say, and at $5 it’s pretty damned cheap as well.

As this blogger predicted yesterday, the SFO found nothing untoward or “irregular” in the Meatworkers Union accounts. Talleys AFFCO agenda was to smear and discredit the Union – nothing else. The Serious Fraud Office must be mightily annoyed at being dragged into an industrial dispute as a pawn by company bosses.

One hope the SFO invoices or prosecutes Talleys for wasting Police time.

Let’s hope that the general public realise the truth of your blog post, and don’t just say “Duh, I dunno, where there’s smoke there’s fire, I always find”… (I know some incredibly dense people who want to believe the worst of workers and unions…so Talley’s piece of idiocy may work well for them amongst the dim people around us.😦
Deb

Let’s hope that the general public realise the truth of your blog post, and don’t just say “Duh, I dunno, where there’s smoke there’s fire, I always find”… (I know some incredibly dense people who want to believe the worst of workers and unions…so Talley’s piece of idiocy may work well for them amongst the dim people around us.
Deb

Yep, valid point, Debbie. There are indeed always a stubborn minority that prefer mischief and lies over truth. It seems to fit into their rather distorted world-view.

All we can do is use every such moment as an opportunity to rebut the lie, and add a bit to explain the workers’ position.

Every time I see the POAL misinformational quote of port workers “earning $91,000” – I use the occassion to rebut the lie; the figure of $91,000 was never adequately explained by POAL, who refused to release Ernst & Young’s working on how thet arrived at their conclusion.

On a related note; I attention a meeting in Wellington this evening. It’s the beginnings of a support group which will be raising money for the meatworkers, and distributing informational material to the public. In time, groups like this will be springing up all over the country.

The locked out meatworkers are not alone in their struggle.Talleys AFFCO – if you’re reading this – you’ve opened yourselves up for a fight. The meatworkers are no longer alone – the community is swinging in behind them.

Rang the 0900 number a couple of times. Just glad to help out. My cousin is one of the workers who were locked out. Poor guy has two young ones to feed.
I’m telling everyone I know not to buy Talleys. Screw those bastards!@!